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Protesters assemble near Obama compound
By Staff and news services
POSTED: 10:08 a.m. HST, Dec 30, 2008
Demonstrators protesting Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip tried to get President-elect Barack Obama’s attention this morning in Kailua.
About six demonstrators assembled near the security checkpoint fronting the entrance to the $9 million rental home where Obama and his family are staying. Some carried signs urging Obama to address U.S. foreign policy when he takes office.
Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel, wore a T-shirt that read: “We will not be silent” and carried a sign that read: “Change U.S. foreign policy. Yes we can.”
Wright, 62, of Honolulu, said the demonstrators represented various groups, including her organization Veterans for Peace.
Other signs read “War is Terror” and “Free Palestine.”
The groups issued a press release that stated in part: “We call on President-elect Obama to place the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the top of his list of priorities of his new administration.”
Obama, however, had not left the Kailua compound as of about 8:30 this morning, after a long day of golf and a night out dining in Honolulu yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon’s tee time at the Mid-Pacific Country Club marked the second time Obama has golfed at the Lanikai golf course and the third time he has hit the links during his vacation, which began Dec. 20.
Obama drew applause and hollers when he walked up to the 18th green. Obama motioned for them to be quiet while others in his party finished their round, touching a finger to his lips.
“That was pretty good, right?” Obama said to more cheers as he walked onto the green. “It went further than my 20-yard drive.”
A woman sitting on a nearby wall shouted, “Better than your bowling.”
The joke referred to Obama’s disastrous bowling outing in Pennsylvania during the presidential campaign when he racked up a terrible score of 37 — with the assist during two frames from an 8-year-old.
Obama wore a red City and County of Honolulu baseball cap, white shirt, khaki shorts and white-and-brown golf shoes.
Accompanying him were Bobby Titcomb, a friend from high school in Hawaii; friends Martin Nesbitt and Greg Orme; and aide Eugene Kang.
Later in the evening, Obama went out to dinner at a restaurant for the first time this visit.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the president-elect, dressed in a buttoned up short-sleeve shirt and slacks, entered Alan Wong’s restaurant on King Street. He also ate at Alan Wong’s during his August visit.
At Alan Wong’s, Obama had dinner with his wife, Michelle, his sister Maya Soetoro Ng and her husband, Konrad Ng, Chicago friends Eric Whitaker, Valerie Jarrett and Nesbitt and Punahou classmate Titcomb. Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, did not attend.
At 10:11 p.m. the motorcade left Alan Wong’s and passed the apartment where Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham lived before she died Nov. 2.
The motorcade returned to the Kailuana Place rental home at 10:43 p.m.
———
The Associated Press, Star-Bulletin reporter B.J. Reyes and media pool reports contributed to this article.
Demonstrators protesting Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip tried to get President-elect Barack Obama’s attention this morning in Kailua.
About six demonstrators assembled near the security checkpoint fronting the entrance to the $9 million rental home where Obama and his family are staying. Some carried signs urging Obama to address U.S. foreign policy when he takes office.
Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel, wore a T-shirt that read: “We will not be silent” and carried a sign that read: “Change U.S. foreign policy. Yes we can.”
Wright, 62, of Honolulu, said the demonstrators represented various groups, including her organization Veterans for Peace.
Other signs read “War is Terror” and “Free Palestine.”
The groups issued a press release that stated in part: “We call on President-elect Obama to place the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the top of his list of priorities of his new administration.”
Obama, however, had not left the Kailua compound as of about 8:30 this morning, after a long day of golf and a night out dining in Honolulu yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon’s tee time at the Mid-Pacific Country Club marked the second time Obama has golfed at the Lanikai golf course and the third time he has hit the links during his vacation, which began Dec. 20.
Obama drew applause and hollers when he walked up to the 18th green. Obama motioned for them to be quiet while others in his party finished their round, touching a finger to his lips.
“That was pretty good, right?” Obama said to more cheers as he walked onto the green. “It went further than my 20-yard drive.”
A woman sitting on a nearby wall shouted, “Better than your bowling.”
The joke referred to Obama’s disastrous bowling outing in Pennsylvania during the presidential campaign when he racked up a terrible score of 37 — with the assist during two frames from an 8-year-old.
Obama wore a red City and County of Honolulu baseball cap, white shirt, khaki shorts and white-and-brown golf shoes.
Accompanying him were Bobby Titcomb, a friend from high school in Hawaii; friends Martin Nesbitt and Greg Orme; and aide Eugene Kang.
Later in the evening, Obama went out to dinner at a restaurant for the first time this visit.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the president-elect, dressed in a buttoned up short-sleeve shirt and slacks, entered Alan Wong’s restaurant on King Street. He also ate at Alan Wong’s during his August visit.
At Alan Wong’s, Obama had dinner with his wife, Michelle, his sister Maya Soetoro Ng and her husband, Konrad Ng, Chicago friends Eric Whitaker, Valerie Jarrett and Nesbitt and Punahou classmate Titcomb. Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, did not attend.
At 10:11 p.m. the motorcade left Alan Wong’s and passed the apartment where Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham lived before she died Nov. 2.
The motorcade returned to the Kailuana Place rental home at 10:43 p.m.
———
The Associated Press, Star-Bulletin reporter B.J. Reyes and media pool reports contributed to this article.
Today’s Edition
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- Symphony cancels concerts and will downsize
- New life for paraplegic lawyer
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- Educators accused of unethical conduct
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- Farrington has Castle's number
- Desperate times at Aloha Stadium
- Further Review: UH's 2-6 mark makes a win tonight a must
- Wahine run over Fresno State
- Hawaii Beat
- Scoreboard
- Television & Radio
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